Low self-esteem affects millions of people worldwide, contributing to depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. While traditional therapy can help, many people face barriers like cost, time constraints, and limited access to qualified therapists. A new study from researchers in Israel suggests that a mobile app based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles might offer a convenient and effective alternative.
Testing a Digital Solution
The research team studied 85 young adults who scored low on standard self-esteem measures. All participants used a mobile app called GGSE for just five minutes a day over three weeks. The app presents users with different statements about themselves and asks them to swipe away negative thoughts while embracing more positive, realistic ones.
The app targets common thinking patterns that fuel low self-esteem, such as perfectionism, harsh self-criticism, and the tendency to constantly compare oneself to others. Users receive brief educational information about how these thought patterns affect mood, then practice identifying and challenging unhelpful beliefs through game-like interactions.
The researchers were curious whether adding brain stimulation might enhance the app's effectiveness. They divided participants into three groups: one received theta brain wave stimulation after using the app, another received beta wave stimulation as a control, and a third used only the app.
Sustained Improvements Without Extra Tech
The results showed that all three groups experienced significant improvements in self-esteem that lasted for six months after the three-week intervention ended. Surprisingly, the brain stimulation techniques didn't provide any additional benefit over using the app alone.
About one in five participants showed clinically meaningful improvement, meaning their self-esteem increased beyond what could be attributed to normal measurement variations. The improvements weren't limited to self-esteem either. Participants also reported reductions in depression, anxiety, perfectionism, social anxiety, and dysfunctional thinking patterns.
What This Means for Self-Esteem Support
These findings add to growing evidence that brief, mobile-delivered therapy tools can produce lasting benefits. The fact that improvements persisted for six months is particularly noteworthy, as it suggests the skills learned through the app continued working long after people stopped using it.
The study builds on previous research showing that various modules of the GGtude platform can help with different mental health concerns. What makes this research unique is that it specifically focused on self-esteem and followed participants for an extended period.
The approach appears to work by helping people develop new mental habits. Instead of automatically accepting negative self-thoughts, users practice recognizing these patterns and replacing them with more balanced, compassionate self-talk. The repetitive, brief nature of the exercises may help these new thinking patterns become more automatic over time.
Important Limitations
While promising, the study has several limitations worth considering. The sample size was relatively small, and all participants were young adults, so the results may not apply to older populations. The study also didn't include a true control group that received no intervention at all, which would have provided a clearer picture of the app's effectiveness.
Additionally, participants conducted the intervention at home, which could introduce variability in how consistently people used the app or how well they followed instructions. The researchers monitored compliance, but home-based studies inherently have less control than laboratory settings.
There's also the possibility that people with low self-esteem might naturally improve somewhat over time regardless of any intervention, a phenomenon known as regression to the mean. However, the sustained improvements across multiple measures and the consistency with previous studies suggest the benefits are genuine.
A Tool, Not a Cure-All
The research suggests that mobile CBT apps could serve as valuable tools for people struggling with self-esteem issues, particularly those who might not otherwise seek help. The brief daily time commitment and accessible format could make mental health support more widely available.
However, it's important to note that severe mental health concerns typically require professional support. While apps like these might help many people, they're likely most appropriate for individuals with mild to moderate self-esteem issues rather than those with serious depression or other mental health conditions.
The failure of brain stimulation to enhance the app's effects, while disappointing to researchers, actually represents good news for practical applications. It means people can potentially benefit from these tools without expensive additional equipment or procedures.
This research contributes to our understanding of how digital mental health tools can support psychological wellbeing. As these technologies continue to develop, they may become increasingly important components of mental health care, offering accessible first steps for people beginning to address self-esteem concerns.
The study demonstrates that even brief, focused interventions can produce meaningful change when they target specific thinking patterns and provide practical skills for managing self-criticism and negative self-talk. For many people struggling with self-esteem, that could make a significant difference in their daily lives and overall wellbeing.
Shtoots, L., Nadler, A., Gamoran, A., Levy, D. A., & Doron, G. (2025). Evaluating the combined effects of mobile computerized CBT and post-learning oscillatory modulation on self-esteem: a randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 1-13.
